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This is contained in a statement released by the forum after its meeting in Abuja on Thursday.
“They make frivolous and unfounded claims and allegations on the welfare of soldiers under the pretext of being more caring for the welfare and condition of Nigerian soldiers but their intention is to encourage indiscipline and ultimately mutiny.
This is contained in a statement released by the forum after its meeting in Abuja on Thursday.
“They make frivolous and unfounded claims and allegations on the welfare of soldiers under the pretext of being more caring for the welfare and condition of Nigerian soldiers but their intention is to encourage indiscipline and ultimately mutiny.
“This group of Nigerians have taken up every available media platform to disparage efforts of the leadership of Nigerian Armed Forces in the fight against terror. Indeed, the tendency is propelled by nothing altruistic other than to curry undue political capital out of the unfortunate crisis in the North East.
“They have not only accused the military and security authorities of denying the soldiers and other security personnel of their entitlements, they have been spreading the sick rumour that the gallant Nigerian soldiers are grumbling over inadequate resources and lack of motivation to take on the insurgents. These unfounded allegations and outright rumour mongering are, to say the least, callous, mischievous and inimical to the well-being of our national security”, the statement read.
It further stated, however, that in spite of the “false claims” the military personnel were determined more than ever before to bring terrorism to an end in the country.
The forum reassured the Nigerian people that the military and security agencies would not be deterred from the commitment to defend and protect the country from any form of insecurity or aggression.
The statement further stated that “simultaneous operations were ongoing nation-wide to address every form of insecurity such as insurgency, oil theft, kidnapping, vandalism, communal clashes, cattle rustling, trafficking in arms and persons, etc.
Counter Terrorism In The North East
In an attempt to counter terrorism in the North East, the committee said that the onslaught on terror was ongoing in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States.
The forum revealed that the fleeing terrorists resorted to attacking soft targets, including the Federal Government College in Buni Yardi and other areas with a view to maintaining a false sense of invincibility, in the wake of relentless bombardments of their bases by the security forces.
They added, “There is no respite yet for the terrorists as the security forces have continued to launch air raids on their suspected bases while mop up operation by the ground forces are being intensified.
“Consequently, scores of the terrorists have either being killed or apprehended and assorted weapons including machine guns and improvised explosive devices have been recovered. Useful information were also extracted from the confessions of those in the custody of the security forces while patrols are sustained”.
The forum also called on the media to help sustain and consolidate on the achievements recorded in the prosecution of war against terror and other forms of insecurity, as it condemned what it termed “an ugly trend of sensationalism that tends to threaten the relationship between the media, the military, and security agencies.”
